Football: Rachad Fettal chooses Spain... and turns his back on Morocco!

The debate between the Moroccan and Spanish football federations over young talents of Moroccan origin has resurfaced.

Young forward Rachad Fettal, a player for Real Madrid's reserve team, Castilla, has decided to represent Spain, sending shockwaves through Moroccan supporters.

This decision comes after several media outlets reported that Fettal was ready to answer the call of the "Atlas Lions" and participate in the upcoming U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for later this year.

Rachad Fettal began his career in the youth teams of Almería, gradually climbing every rung until reaching the first team. He made his La Liga debut on December 3, 2023, against Real Betis, before joining Real Madrid Castilla in the last summer transfer window to continue his development.

Mohamed Ouahbi comments on Fettal's decision

Regarding Fettal's decision, Mohamed Ouahbi, coach of Morocco's U-20 team, stated:

"Rachad is a very talented player with excellent goal-scoring instincts. He has demonstrated remarkable qualities in some matches, but like every young player, he hasn't always maintained the same level."

He added: "We tried to contact him and invite him several times, but he ultimately chose to represent Spain. It's a personal choice that we respect."

Ouahbi concluded: "We never force any player to join the national team. The priority goes to those who truly feel a connection to Morocco. We have players capable of filling any gap, and we will continue to support all Moroccan talents."

This decision recalls the scenario with Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's young sensation, who also declined to play for the Atlas Lions despite the Moroccan Federation's persistent efforts to recruit him.

Moroccan prodigy Rachad Fettal impresses at Real Madrid

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.